Bible Commentaries

Psalms 105:25 — human will - free as it is - is independent of God; and not even the worst passions of men are “outside of his plan,” or independent in such a sense that he does not afford the opportunity for their development and display. Compare the notes at Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 10:5-7, Isaiah 10:15.To deal subtilly - In a fraudulent, or deceitful manner. See Exodus 1:10.

Psalms 106:40 — Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people - Anger is often compared with a fire; as we say now, a man is “inflamed” with passion. See Esther 1:12; Lamentations 2:3; Psalms 79:5; Psalms 89:46; Jeremiah 4:4; Judges 2:14. Of course, this must be taken in a manner appropriate to God. It means that his treatment of his offending people was as if he were burning with wrath against them.Insomuch

Psalms 112:7 — in all which “does” take place he is able to sustain the sufferer. There is nothing so well suited to make the mind calm as trust in God. What has a man to be afraid of who does trust in him? Compare Psalms 27:3; Psalms 46:2; Psalms 56:3-4; Hebrews 13:6; Proverbs 1:33.His heart is fixed - Is firm; is established. See the notes at Psalms 57:7.Trusting in the Lord - This is the reason “why” his heart is “fixed” or firm. It is not any native courage or resolution; it is not any firmness of his own;

Psalms 116:2 — Because he hath inclined his ear unto me - See the notes at Psalms 5:1. Because he has been gracious to me, and has heard my prayers. This is a pood reason for serving God, or for devoting ourselves to him, but it is not the only reason. We ought to worship and serve God whether he hears our prayers or not; whether he

Psalms 119:62 — vent to his feelings. The mind may be so full of love to the law - the word - of God, that nothing will satisfy it but such unusual acts of devotion. The Saviour rose up a great while before day, and went out into a solitary place and there prayed Mark 1:35; and on one occasion at least he continued all night in prayer to God Luke 6:12.Because of thy righteous judgments - I do this on account of the interest which I have in those judgments or laws of righteousness. I love them as laws; I love them as

Psalms 137:8 — O daughter of Babylon - That is, Babylon itself; the city of Babylon. On the word “daughter” as thus used, see the notes at Isaiah 1:8.Who art to be destroyed - Certainly to be destroyed; of whose destruction there are fixed and absolute prophecies. See the notes at Isaiah 13:19-22.Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us - Margin, that recompenseth unto thee

Psalms 98:6 — With trumpets - The word used here is uniformly rendered “trumpets” in the Scriptures. Numbers 10:2, Numbers 10:8-10; Numbers 31:6; et al. The trumpet was mainly employed for convening a public assembly for worship, or for assembling the hosts for battle. The original word - חצצרה chătsôtserâh - is supposed to have been designed to imitate “the

Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 — direction of the wind, are beyond his control, though the result of his work is affected by them. The common application of the image of the fallen tree to the state of departed souls was probably not in the mind of the inspired writer.Ecclesiastes 11:5Spirit - The same Hebrew word (like πνεῦμα pneuma in Greek and “Spirit” in English) signifies both the wind Ecclesiastes 11:4 and the Spirit (compare marginal reference). The Old Testament in many places recognizes the special operation of God Job

Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 — The days of my vanity - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note).The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances

Song of Solomon 6:10 — The chorus address the bride here only as the Shulamite, and beg her to perform for their entertainment a sacred dance (see Song of Solomon 6:13) of her own country. The bride, after complying with their request, while they sing some stanzas in her praise Song of Solomon 7:1-5, and after receiving fresh commendations from the king Song of Solomon 7:6-10, invites him to return with her to her

Isaiah 25:1 — that Yahweh had manifested himself as their covenant-keeping God; and that in view of his faithfulness in keeping his promises, they now had demonstration that he was their God.I will exalt thee - A form of expression often used to denote praise Psalms 118:28; Psalms 145:1, meaning that the worshipper would exalt God in the view of his own mind, or would regard him as above all other beings and objects.For thou hast done wonderful things - On the meaning of the Hebrew, פלא pel' - ‘wonderful,’ see the

Isaiah 27:9 — was to preserve them henceforward from relapsing into their accustomed idolatry.The iniquity of Jacob - The sin of the Jewish people, and particularly their tendency to idolatry, which was their easily besetting sin.Be purged - (see the note at Isaiah 1:25).And this is all the fruit - And this is all the “object” or “design” of their captivity and removal to Babylon.When he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalk stones - That is, Yahweh shall make the stones of the altars reared in honor of idols

Isaiah 3:9 — of the heart; or as it is expressed in our translation, that the expression of the face will “witness” against a wicked man.They declare ... - By their deeds. Their crimes are open and bold. There is no attempt at concealment.As Sodom - see Genesis 19:5; compare the note at Isaiah 1:10.Wo unto their soul - They shall bring woe upon themselves; they deserve punishment. This is an expression denoting the highest abhorrence of their crimes.They have rewarded evil ... - They have brought the punishment

Isaiah 44:11 — Behold, all his fellows - All that are joined in making, and in worshipping it, are regarded as the fellows, or the companions (חברין chăbērâyn) of the idol-god (see Hosea 4:17 - ‘Ephraim is joined to idols’). They and the idols constitute one company or fellowship, intimately allied to each other.Shall be, ashamed - Shall be confounded when they find that their idols cannot aid them.And the workmen - The allusion to the

Isaiah 47:14 — Behold, they shall be as stubble - They shall be no more able to resist the judgments which are coming upon the city, than dry stubble can resist the action of the fire. A similar figure is used in Isaiah 1:31 (see the notes at that verse). Compare also Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30, where fire is a symbol of the devouring judgments of God.They shall not deliver themselves - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Their souls.’ The meaning is, that they would be unable to protect

Isaiah 49:15 — such a thing may occur. In pagan lands, strong as is the instinct which binds a mother to her offspring, it has not been uncommon for a mother to expose her infant child, and to leave it to die. In illustration of this fact, see the notes at Romans 1:31.

Ezekiel 27:10-11 — The prophet here leaves the allegory of the ship to describe the armies of the Tyrians composed of mercenary soldiers.Ezekiel 27:10Persia - The name of this people does not occur in the more ancient books of the Old Testament; but in the books of the exile and after the exile it is frequent. This exactly corresponds with the record of history. It was just at the time that Ezekiel

Ezekiel 3:18-21 — This passage anticipates the great moral principle of divine government Ezekiel 18:0 that each man is individually responsible for his own actions, and will be judged according to these and these alone.Ezekiel 3:20I lay a stumblingblock before him - I bring him to trial by placing difficulties and temptations in his way (compare

Hosea 4:18 — Their drink is sour - Literally, “turned,” as we say of milk. So Isaiah says, “Thy silver is become dross; thy wine is mingled,” i. e., adulterated, “with water” Isaiah 1:22; and our lord speaks of “salt which had lost its savor.” The wine or the salt, when once turned or become insipid, is spoiled, irrecoverably, as we speak of “dead wine.” They had lost all their life, and taste of goodness.Her rulers with shame do

Amos 5:24 — on in one perpetual flow, reaching all, refreshing all, and “righteousness like a mighty (or ceaseless) stream.” The word “ethan” may signify “strong or perennial.” Whence the seventh month, just before the early rain, was called “the month Ethanim 1 Kings 8:2, that is, the month of the “perennial streams,” when they alone flowed. In the meaning “perennial,” it would stand tacitly contrasted with “streams which fail or lie.” True righteousness is not fitful, like an intermitting stream, vehement